The 2015 Cotton Bowl will double as the second College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year's Eve. The Michigan State Spartans will face the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a battle between two smashmouth teams.
Three key statistics will decide Thursday's contest. We'll take a look at each stat as well as the primary matchups that will affect the bottom line.
Alabama Sacks
Alabama comes into the game as the nation's leader in sacks with 46, per cfbstats.com. If the Spartans offensive line can't contain the Crimson Tide pass rush, it's going to be a long night for quarterback Connor Cook and the Michigan State offense.